Santa Cruz 07/22

Let Ernie (Mendohead) borrow my scupper classic and we went out of Santa Cruz, West launch. The harbor  is loaded with anchovies and the aerators are working at full power. I t looks like a Giant bait tank. Ernie wanted to save time so instead of making bait he went and bought some for the both of us.

We headed out of the jaws and hung a left  to pleasure point. It was an easy paddle with no wind and no swells. We got out to about 50 ft. of water and started to fish live anchovies. The drift was taking us back toward the jaws but out aways. It was a very slow ride and no fish bitting. We didn't see no other kayakfishers  or any fish on the finder. We were getting discourage but hung out for another hour or so, since the tide was going to turn at 10:10am.

I started to get nibbles only to catch very small sanddabs. I kept them alive for ling bait just in case. Then Ernie gets slammed only to be disappointed. It was a spinney dog fish shark. He cut his line and re-rigged. We continued to slowly drift till the tide finally turned. Now were drifting back towards Pleasure point. I feel a tug and some weight on the line More ling bait. I got a nice size Octopus! I stuck it into a ziplock bag so it wouldn't get away. Then Ernie catches a small rockfish and putts it on the stringer.

Just as we were giving up and all the bait was dying in the bait tube  he gets a hook up thinking it was just a nother  spiny dog fish shark. He starts to reel it in and yells “ it's a but, it s a but . I paddled to him and coached him to try and bring him to the otherside of the yak, we didn't want his line to get tangled up with the bait tub or fish stringer. The fish was in range for gaffing and I coached him to put the gaff in the water and get him from underneath as he pulled it in  closer. Ernie, sticks it right under the fin! Perfect gaffing. He puts it on the game clip and starts to hit it on the head with a half filled water bottle. I started to laugh because the water bottle was not going to knock this halibut out. I told him to use the but of his gaff. End of story. Weigh in at 12#.

Congratulations Mendohea! I haven't caught a Halibut since I borrowed Brian G. Kayak. Anybody have an extra kayak I could borrow.

Way to go Ernie 

Congratulations Mendohea! I haven't caught a Halibut since I borrowed Brian G. Kayak. Anybody have an extra kayak I could borrow.

Hey Alex - you should have sit Scupper Classic instead.  No borrowing is necessary.

Hi Yakers:

           It was a great day! Santa Cruz is still a fun place to fish. Lots to Tuna, stories and Brewskies shared at the
cleaning station.  I need a day of rest to let my fingers heal and hopfully go out this week. Alex is a good friend
and made sure  I wouldn't  loose my Butt.
         
                                                                                                           Ernie

Ernie,

The Halubut fillet we traded for the albacore was awsome. I had a sashime dinner last night and you could only guess what i'm going to have tonight. 

good fishing with you Bro.

alex

Hi Bro:

         Dido, my wife thinks I'm the king now. I ready to catch some  anchovies and some Butts. I plan on doing Pleasure
Pt. this week. Did the Farmer Johns and Top fit your Son? We need to do a Pool party with the Family next week-end.
 P.S. Bring your casting net!
                                                                                                                                             Ernie
                                           

I was thinking of taking a trip to the launch ramp after work and exercise the castnet throwing skills

you want to come along.


Note: spoke with the fishing game ranger who was patrolling the harbor and I asked if it was legal to fish for the bait in the harbor: he told me they incouraged it because there were so many! As long as we were not in the way of boat traffic.

Hi Alex

          I need to spend some time at home Today. I was thinking of when we go out
for Butts, we could catch our own bait right at the Dock with your Net.
                                                                   Thanks
                                                                   Ernie